Wheel cover



Feb. 1, 1949. G A, LYON v 2,460,784

l WHEEL COVER Filed April 10, 1944 .iwi/5772221j @0265 /7 55er you by@ h; Q/wW/p/g `the wheel, :thereto to s-emibly includes Patented Feb. 1, 1949 smies Mem oren: E

WHEEL CGVER 'George Albert Lyon, Allenhurst, NMI. ilpp'lcmtion April 10, 1944,`Se1a1N.f530,355

"'Thisenveritionis mreotedztoanzmproved wheel structure and relates .moreipartioularly to an improved arrangement sfor :securing land 'retaining va .oever *assembly y'th-encon. J

mt dean :obli-estoi `the present 7invention rto iprov 'vide an assembly whereby ithelfcover of Aa wheel structure is maintained ithereoneby the .same yat- I-taolimerit means f-Which 'lis utilized to retain l"the Whee'l` upon :a vehicle with Vwhich :the Wheel is 'assooiated :Stillanother 5oioeot `of the present 'invention is itofprovide an improved @arrangement :for mainftainin-ga muti-:part veover :assembly lover the entire outer :side a Awheel structure, `the ,i'adlfaily outer :part foi the zoomer .being esiliently, oeally temporarily flexible itogbe exed outwardiy and faway the wheel Lito :render lthe meer Aside thereof land :appartem mes :therebehind accessible and the central v,eireulazr .Chub oapfsimu- Hating .cover Lpart :being readily and ,easily removable 'to aord removal .of :the vwvlheel lirom ka vehicle and also to aord removal 0i theuemai-ning portion of ithe oever nomine-wheel ,if f-such is desired.,

it is Aiariotlzier object foi the ipresent invention Y to provide'f'or :disposition foyer the outer side @j ra w'hel stnuctime, an improved @over yassembly having La r-aeiisillfy .outer pari', ,formed trom ysynthetic plastic material so ite ibe ,.resiliently ,id-is- Itortaljle .and self-sustaining `es to form whereby 'it vvwill immediately lbaci: :into inormal -eongmzatien idistoriirig pressures Lare relieved `itheretrom, this :cover portion @being arrangze-d to extend @om the eradialfl leviter extne-mreif the Wheel, eadiaily inwardly, l@sind .to asir-nw il-ate the curvature of #the iside mail of fa time in 4:give the appearance lof Peeing a ieontinuatirm lof the Iside Wall fof *the tire 'and to :appear as fia )massive white side wall oi" a tire on :a umeel 'of dimensions, :when colored White.

ift iis 'another :important licibfreet of the present invention te rprovide ya xzover :assembly gior disposition over the outer @side r:if fa wheel, which assa radially foutez' :cover part at- Jta'clied @to rthe .Wheelby means :of iboits which "se- 4cure the Wheel tolihe vehicle, vthere also {oeing .ptovided a ventral heb capi'eoverrmemberfmaintained on fthe wheel oy afirme foi an attachment to the radially inner mart of fthe dirsi gnamed cover member. f tIt is another .object :of :the present invention to prov-ide an irriproved :cover assembly v'zfer r-clis- 4yosition over the outerside .of ia wheel structure, kwin-ehcover esseuibiy `eoxiiririsee@an louter @over .ilo

ji-nventiorl Ashown herein @there is 2 member having :a madiallehnner part secured to @the :wheel and having :an Iintermediate portieri conformed die @theioorfiigm'ation o the Wlfxfel and vprovi-ded with taperdmres r'thi:ereg-1.1 which pretu- Aberamees on the wheel fmay extend, these protuberamoes being faiirganged `to detaohably engage a central @over mbar Y:whereby the :latter is held onto the, wfheel and also serves -to Vpress the outer cover member against the eouter ,@surface 'of 'the wheel. i

accordance with the general ifeatu-res of the present-inventionthere ,is ,fprovided herein a multi-'part `@oliver assembly having ra :reuialiy :outer cover @member @reivided awiiih a `radially inner portion adapted-to reeiw'ewfheei bolts r`and adapted to be secured to the wheel by the respective fonts attached :tofiihewheel `fbe'lts, cover being eonzgurated ito detaiohazbly receive ya oen- :trai .foil-cular oever member to provide Voverall foevenage izhe 'wheel structurer iin accordance wilihthe general features of one lStorm 'of ythe invention there is provided herein a Wheel .structure Shaving a tire irm eend 'la fcentral 'lload bearing po ltiomprovied with-bolt apertures for receiving lwheel ioolts, and fa cover `assembly including' a lziel-atively frigid retaining aimulus `prcnrided with Wheel 'bolt receiving apertures .fand aise provided Ivitli =a 4-remially fouter fpaift tor 1etainirig'iy `engaging a 'radially :outwardly extending* cover part and for retaininely `engaging a een-trai ciro-111er huhcap oever part, 'tl-iis retaining member lbeiner @arranged ito 'be secured funto the Wheel Lley virtue of the 'ioolts which mail-itam the Wheel uponithevl'iiole In laocordarice with 4still `vanother iform of the provided a Wheel strutture `including a lcentral load lbearing portion' 'having 7circulajrly arranged, circumferen- `tially .spaced 'protuberances on the axially outer sulace thereof and a multi-mart cover assembly including 'a 'raiiiaily 1oui-,er oever lmemleer having a radially inner portion arranged to receive Wheel attaching ."oolts and also having apertures spaced to be aligned with said protuberances'so that the latter may extend "therethrough, 'said `lprotuher- ,amies being )arranged to retainingly receive "a "snapfon portion of la. central hubcap imember, whereby theilatter is not only 'held on the Wheel by the protliberanoes `but aiso serves to ypressingly fonce the .radially A0.1111261 Cover member tightly against the Wheel structure so that `if 'theouter a resilient, compressible plastic material itserves as .aoushionbetween'the central eiroular oever member and the metallic the tire l] and thevtllf rim', 1. To the end that the vcover 3 3 may be secured f in aVV Satisfactory manner tothe wheel structure, the radially inner margin thereof i5. iSSQQiLQd development of vibration means. of wheel bolts that secure the wheel to thervehicle and also having a radially outer part arranged to retaininglyreceive the ,radially inner portion of the' `radially outer cover' member'and the radially outer portion of the radially inner cover member, thereby to provide a common anechorage for the plurality of cover parts.

Other objects and advantages of theinvention.

will become apparent from the following description and accompanying drawings in which:

with the wheel structure in a manner to be described presently.

As shown in Figure 2 the enti-re wheel structure may be secured to a brake drum 24 of the vehicle. To this end the brake drum is provided with axially outwardly extending bolts 25 which are externally threaded to receive wheel nuts 26, it being understood that the bolts 25 are circularly arrange@ andlcrcumferentiallyspaeed in the usual Irian'ner.. STO the endthatflth'e wheel may f accomodate the bolts 25,' the central load bearing portion and particularly the bolt-on flange 3 thereof is provided with bolt apertures 21 .Liwhich are aligned with the bolts 25 to receive Figure 1 is a side elevational view with-apartbroken away for illustrative purposes. of the Wheel embodying a form of my invention;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary enlarged cross-sectional view Vof a-wheelVv structure embodying the iform of my invention-shown in Figurel; and

-Figure 3'l is an'A enlarged, -fragmentary .crosssectional view of a `modified form of my invention.

1I-t will' be `understoodthat the embodiments shown/'herein are forvlillustrativepurposes only -andemay be changed or modied without depart- :ingjfrom the spiriti and v'scope of the invention-as set Iforth-in the appended claims. fl

As shown'in Figures 1 and 2,'*t-he wheel struc;- ture' includes a tire rim Iifhaving a base. ilange IIYand a central load .bearing -portion I2 pro- Y vided with a peripheral, axially inwardly y extending'i'l'ange I2a, which'may besecured to the base `flangeV I'I by means of welding vor -riveting or the like.

AThe central Yload Abearingportion I2 is further f provided with a radially inner bolt-on -ange I3 while the tire rim I0 4is provided with y,Opposite side wall flanges I4, .opposite intermediate-flanges I5 and opposite edge portions I6, between which may Y be disposed a tire I I having .an inner` tube .lfprovided with a tire valve vstem I9 which extends through a suitable aligned aperture in the respective side wall ange I4 of the-tire rim Ill.v

The cover assembly shownherein includes a 'radiallyiouter annular icover member 3 3 kand a Y central circular hub cap simulating coverrmem- -ber 34.' The cover-memberS is preierabl-y convstrufcted from relatively thin sheet synthetic plastic material so as -to be -resiliently,. locally flexible, whereby the-radially outerfpat .thereof may be lexedaxially outwardly andradially in- Y wardly away from thewheel to render the rear side thereof accessible to aiord manipulation of 'wheel balancing weights 2 2A attached to the edge partiva: i6 .of the tire to attach a nozzle fof Van air hose to the valve stem I9 or for servicing gother appurtenances associated with the wheel zuidv heuse-.d therebehindr AISQ this CQver inem- .be-p33 is previdedwith a crpssf'seetonal 'expanse Y of .such .magnitude that v it extends .from the `radially outer extremity O f the' Wheel.. radially Y inwardly to a lpoint in the vicinity of the bolt-on Y ilange I3, the Ucurvature thereof being such that 5565/ the cover appears to Vbe a. continuation of the side wall of the -tire when secured to the wheel.

:I f .desi-red, the cover may be provided at the radially Vouter Vedge with a slightly outwardly flared portion 33a which extends beyond theV VVedge portion I6 to'conceal the Y junction between the saine so that when nuts 2B are screwed onto Athe-bolts Athe central load bearing portion I2 of the Wheel is `pres s ed tightly against the brake druniand held in this position.

*Preferably the radially inner part olf the cover member 33 is supported and reinforced by virtue of .the lfact-that the hubx'cap simulating cover member. 34"iis ;desirably made 'from 'sheet steel 'o rthe'like'. :Thisicentral cover member 34 which simulates a hub cap is. provided with an inter.- -mediate,'zradially.outwardly protruding shoulder portion 29 whichvis-idened on the-.axially outer v-sicle :thereof by a generally radially inwardly, laxia'lly inwardly, :obliquelydisposed snap-on filange 3i) terminatingin asnap-on bead 39.

As best shown in Fig. 2, the cover-assembly includes a multi-part, radially .outer plastic cover vmember J 33 :.icomprisng a, radially. outer plastic .part and aradiallyrinner retaining part to be described. The 'cover` assembly is .completed vby the provision of. acentrally, Jci-rlllar A Irietal hub cap simulating cover 34. In this construction a novfel; radiallyfinnerretaining part 35 of the cover member-133 Ycomprises a retainingannulus which not only retains the cover members 33 and .34 upon the Wheel but ,also serves to aid in rigidifying the-complementary, ifrangible plastic v.cover part 33. Y

y"This retaining` annulus, .as shownat 35,-; is generally L shape in cross section having-a radially inwardly extending leg 36 .andra generallyaxially outwardly-extending leg 31.. Thisy `retaining annulus 35 is' Ypreferably formed from thi n sheet steel lby Arolling or stamping and the leg v36 thereofis Vformed to conform to the configuration of the-bolt-on flange I3 of the wheel structureand isf alsol provided with apertures susceptible of #alignment withrthe-bolt apertures 2lV in the bolton flange'l3 ofthe wheel. 4The leg 3.1 Aof the retaining lannulu's 35is provided Ywith -a marginal "portion having -an inner part which 4is circularly -depressed Aradially inwardly a slight amount to provide a shoulder 31a-for the cover member 34 'in alma-nner tovv be described Y.presently and an outer part which extends generally radially outwardly'to provideIa-retaining shoulder for Athe cover part 33. .f f

The cover-par't33 isprovided at the radially inner margin thereoiwi-th a .curvate portion 38 arranged to nesting'ly .engage in the legr31 of the retaining part 35 and the c0ver.33 is preferably attached to the. retaining part by being slipped thereon' from the `.rea-r side thereof before attachment to the'wheel tallesy place. Afterthe cover member A33V has been disposedin the position shown in'ligure '2, the retaining annulus 35 is aligned concentrically with the wheel so that -4the Vbolt holestthereinarealigned With the bolt vThe' boltseare theninserted through the bolt 1301.65 -Qf lthe cover. assembly and the nuts 3 6. are

l `alignmentzwith thesapertures in ;thewheel,-there- 'ff'cover stru'cturefalsoinc'luding :at ysaid radially in- .ner Apart zthereof, radially inwardly `facing shouldered means for 'detachablyretaining re- ;s'ilientsnap-on'means -ofja1 central cover member, .land-'a central circular `cover member 'detachably retained y said'shouldered means 'on said Vannuflal'cover structure. i

Y 23.1In a *cover `assembly for disposition over `the "outer side o'f a Ywheelstructure `havinga tire' rim and `a vrcentral Aload bearing v'portion Yprovided with Vape'rti'ires for receiving wheel bolts of a `vehicle 'withV which vthe wheel is associated, a radialll fouten' :annular :cover member formed Vfrom yresiliently Iilexibleplastic" material which -is selflsustaining as to form, said cover 'member having "its outer margin disposed -in the vicinity of the 'flradiall-y outer extremity of the wheel; anannular "retaining member having a radially outer marginal `rpart Varranged to retainingly engage :the

t rlaiiially'innermarginal part ofsaid cover mem- -b'er and havingthe inner margin thereof `disposed over the apertured part ofthe central'load f'bear'ing portion, said inner'margin ofthe retain- Sing member 'having aligned apertures therein to V"rer'seivetlie vehicle wheel vbolts vwhereby said re- Ataining'memberwiththe cover member is secured /to the iwheel when the wheel is secured tothe vehicle, ,the radially outer part of the retaining `member being vformed t-o provide. Va circular, radially;inwardlydisposed shoulder; and `a cen- `trai,"circular cover'member having a snap-on Il iead; Y said shoulderedV portion ofthe retaining ,member being 4arranged to detachably receive the snap-on beajd of said central Ycover member to maintain Ithe 4same .on the wheel structure.

4..,In a cover assemblyfor disposition .over the Y Youter side of la Wheel structure having a, tire rim Y and a central load bearing portion provided with apertures for receiving Wheel bolts of a'vehicle with which the wheel may be associated, a ra- 'dially'outen annularcover member formed from resiliently flexible plastic material which is selfsustaining as to form, said Ycover member having its outer margin disposed in the vicinity of theV radially outer extremity of the wheel, and an annularretaining member having a radially outer marginal part arranged ,totengage the radially inner marginal part of said cover member retainingly andrh-aving the inner margin thereof disposed for `disposition over the apertured part of the central load bearing porti-on, said inner mar- 'g-in of the retaining member having aligned apertures therein to receivethe vehicle wheel bolts 'whereby said retaining member with the .cover member` is secured to the .wheel when the `wheel is secured to the vehicle.

5.`In;a cover assembly for ldisposition .over -the outer side of a Wheel structure of the kind including a bolt-on central nange, an annular cover mem-ber having a central bolt-on flange arranged tobe -securedto the wheel structure at the bolton Vflange of the latter, said Ycover member including a generally axially outwardlt7 extending porp tion having radially inwardly projecting cover retainingshoulder means, and an inner circular cover member having a formation engagea'ble in snap-on@ pry-olf relation with said. shoulder means anda portion -concealing said axially out- Wa'rdly extending `portion ofthe annular cover member. Y `V 6.V In a cover assembly Afor disposition over the outer 'side of a vehicle wheel, inner" and 'outer anfnular cover lmembers, the inner marginal portion of :the outer covermemberand the-radially outer *portion of the inner :cover'member-beingfretainingly interconnected, said vinner -covenmember having fhub cap retain-ing means thereon, and a Ahub cap retainingly engaging said means .infsnapon, pry-oil relation and carried bythe .innerfcover member.

7. AIn a cover assembly for-disposition over the outer side of a wheel structure, an outer 'annular vcover member, an Yinner-circular cover member,

and an annular retainingmember, said retaining A,member having generally axially inwardlyand axially outwardly extending marginal portions, said outer marginal 4'portion comprising 'a `lange `having radially outer and radially 'inner faces and being retainingly engaged on the vradiallyouter face thereof by said outerfannular cover member and retainingly engaged lon theradially'inner` face Athereofby said inner circular cover member, the generally axially innertmarg-inal iportion -fof said retaining member 'fbeing retainingly iengageable V.with `the wheel.

8. In a whee] structure including altireirim'and a load sustaining bodypartjthe bodyfpartfha'ving a central bolt-on flange, .a cover `assembly in- "cluding an annulus for dispositionin covering relation to the tire rim and an'adjacentilportion recombination, a cover retaining annulus having a portion Vthereof arranged for attachment to the YWheel anda portionthereof having a generally radially *outwardly extending shoulder structure and a generally vradially inwardly extending shoulder structure, an outer annularcover `member engaging said radiallyvoutwardly extending shoulder structure,v and an inner circular -'cover member retainingly engaging said Vradially inwardly extending shoulder structure, Vsaid inner circular cover member extending into substantially concealing relation to thejuncture of the Vcover components.

10; In a cover assembly for disposition over the outerV side of a vehicle wheel, a retaining annulus having a generally axially vinwardly extending portion adapted for attachment to a Vwheel and a generally axially outwardly extending Vportion having a curved terminal part providing la ge'nerallyradially outwardly extending shoulder facing` generally axially inwardly and a curved part axially inwardly fromsaid terminal rpart providing a generally radially finwardly exwardly extending shoulder.

11. In a cover assembly for disposition `over the outer side of a wheel structure, inner and outer cover members having generally complementary internesting margina1 portions, vand Va retaining member internested Abetween said complementary internesting portions and extending -generally axially inwardly from the juncture of the members forattachment to the wheel.

12. In a cover assembly for disposition over the outer side of a wheel structure, va, cover retaining annulus having a generally axially outwardly extending ange, a trimV ring retainingly engaging the radially outer side of said flange and extending generally radially outwardly therebeyond, and a circular inner cover member retainingly engaging the radially inner side of said ange and extendingl in covering relation thereto, said retaining ring having a portion extending generally axially inwardly beyond the juncture of said cover members with said flange and adapted for attachment of the cover assembly to a wheel.

GEORGE ALBERT LYON.

10 REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,234,387 Paugh et al. July 24, 1917 1,959,255 Zerk May 15, 1934 2,016,395 Sinclair Oct. 8, 1935 2,157,908 Lyon May 9, 1939 2,166,216 Lyon July 18, 1939 2,167,102 Burger July 25, 1939 2,244,014 Lyon June 3, 1941 2,298,669 Wood Oct; 13, 1942 2,368,254 Lyon Jan. 30, 1945 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 626,864 France 1927 

